Laila
Active Member
An Islamic perspective
I am writing this out of deep concern; concern for My Ummah.
This is in response to the website quoted on the thread Islam and homosexuality
and many other similar themed websites on the internet.
http://www.answering-christianity.com/houses.htm
I apologise if this thread causes upset, as it will to some people, but this is a discussion that must be had. I urge all Muslim brothers and sisters to reflect carefully as it is our moral duty as Muslims to think. I want to further add that I have high regard for all scholars and thinkers, to which I am indebted, without their work my thought process would be limited. It is crucial to say here that I do not have all the answers and I do not under any circumstances claim to be correct, knowledge lies solely with Allah; I am but a mere seeker of the truth.
Can Islam accept homosexuality?
And (We sent) Lut when he said to his people: Most surely you are guilty of an indecency which none of the nations has ever done before you;
What! do you come to the males and commit robbery on the highway, and you commit evil deeds in your assemblies? But nothing was the answer of his people except that they said: Bring on us Allah's punishment, if you are one of the truthful.
(Surah 29, Verses 28-29)
Surely We will cause to come down upon the people of this town a punishment from heaven, because they transgressed.
And certainly We have left a clear sign of it for a people who understand.
(Surah 29, Verses 34-35)
These Verses make clear that same sex relationships, of a sexual nature, are not allowed in Islam.
Punishments this looks at the verses discussed in the above quoted websites.
(As for) the fornicatress and the fornicator, flog each of them, (giving) a hundred stripes, and let not pity for them detain you in the matter of obedience to Allah, if you believe in Allah and the last day, and let a party of believers witness their chastisement. (Surah 24, Verse 2)
And those who accuse free women then do not bring four witnesses, flog them, (giving) eighty stripes, and do not admit any evidence from them ever; and these it is that are the transgressors (Surah 24, Verse 4)
By obvious implications, this injunction applies to cases where a women accuses a man of illicit sexual intercourse, and is subsequently unable to prove her accusations legally. The severity of the punishment to be meted out in such cases, as well as the requirement of four witnesses instead of the two that Islamic law regards as sufficient in all other criminal and civil suits is based on the imperative necessity of preventing slander and off-hand accusations.
And as for those who are guilty of an indecency from among your women, call to witnesses against them four (witnesses) from among you; then if they bear witness confine them to the houses until death takes them away or Allah opens some way for them.
And as for the two who are guilty of indecency from among you, give them both a punishment; then if they repent and amend, turn aside from them; surely Allah is Oft-returning (to mercy), the Merciful. (Surah 4, Verses 15-16)
The punishment for adultery for men is the same for women. It is prescribed in 24:2, and that is 100 lashes.
In addition, a woman who is caught in the act of adultery on four different occasions and witnessed by four different people, is to be confined to her home. This is for her own safety and the safety of society, it seems logical to say this verse is the punishment for prostitution since the Arabic word Fahishah is used. The words "until God creates an exit for them" could be if the woman finds a husband. This would end her quarantine, since marriage would hopefully make her change her ways and become a righteous woman. The words in 4:16 do not prescribe a different punishment for men. The first word used in 4:16 is the Arabic word "Ala'zan" which speaks of a couple (man and woman). It talks of a man and a woman in adultery or fornication; we read the words 'you shall punish them' (Aazuhoma). This refers to the prescribed punishment which is 100 lashes. It is important here to point out a major difference between the women spoken of in verse 15 from those in verse 16. It is a fundamental principle of Islamic Law that once a crime has been expiated by the trangressors undergoing the ordained legal punishment (in this case 100 stripes), it must be regarded, insofar as the society is concerned, as atoned for and done with.
Later day scholars have interpreted 4:16 as a punishment for homosexuals. The word Alazan could be a man and a woman, or two men but not two women. That is because the word used is 'Ala'zan' and not 'Ala'tan'. I doubt this is the case since two men would not be spoken of as a couple since this is not allowed in Islam. Additionally I could not find a reference for the word Alatan which refers to two women. Using this logic I conclude that 4:15-16, is not speaking about homosexual relationships. Be careful Muslim brothers and sisters we can not add any punishments; that of which Allah has not justly prescribed.
Take to forgiveness and enjoin good and turn aside from the ignorant. And if a false imputation from the Shaitan afflict you, seek refuge in Allah; surely He is Hearing, Knowing (Surah 7, Verse 199-200)
The meaning of this verse is literally accept what is easily forthcoming (from mans nature) According to Zamakhsharri, khudh al-afw means: Accept what comes easily to thee (or what is willingly accorded to thee) of the doings and the nature of men, and make things easy (for them), without causing them undue hardship (kulfah); and do not demand of them efforts that may be too difficult for them. Thus, in accordance with the Quranic statements that man has been created weak (4:28) and that God does not burden any human being with more than he is able to bear (2:286), the believer is admonished to make due allowances for human nature and not be to harsh with those who err. This admonition is the more remarkable as it follows immediately upon a discourse on the most unforgivable of all sins the ascribing of divine powers to anyone or anything but God.
However if recent scholars, still take the interpretation of later day scholars; meaning Verse 16 is a punishment, the maximum punishment for practising homosexuality would be no more 100 strikes.
I am writing this out of deep concern; concern for My Ummah.
This is in response to the website quoted on the thread Islam and homosexuality
and many other similar themed websites on the internet.
http://www.answering-christianity.com/houses.htm
I apologise if this thread causes upset, as it will to some people, but this is a discussion that must be had. I urge all Muslim brothers and sisters to reflect carefully as it is our moral duty as Muslims to think. I want to further add that I have high regard for all scholars and thinkers, to which I am indebted, without their work my thought process would be limited. It is crucial to say here that I do not have all the answers and I do not under any circumstances claim to be correct, knowledge lies solely with Allah; I am but a mere seeker of the truth.
Can Islam accept homosexuality?
And (We sent) Lut when he said to his people: Most surely you are guilty of an indecency which none of the nations has ever done before you;
What! do you come to the males and commit robbery on the highway, and you commit evil deeds in your assemblies? But nothing was the answer of his people except that they said: Bring on us Allah's punishment, if you are one of the truthful.
(Surah 29, Verses 28-29)
Surely We will cause to come down upon the people of this town a punishment from heaven, because they transgressed.
And certainly We have left a clear sign of it for a people who understand.
(Surah 29, Verses 34-35)
These Verses make clear that same sex relationships, of a sexual nature, are not allowed in Islam.
Punishments this looks at the verses discussed in the above quoted websites.
(As for) the fornicatress and the fornicator, flog each of them, (giving) a hundred stripes, and let not pity for them detain you in the matter of obedience to Allah, if you believe in Allah and the last day, and let a party of believers witness their chastisement. (Surah 24, Verse 2)
And those who accuse free women then do not bring four witnesses, flog them, (giving) eighty stripes, and do not admit any evidence from them ever; and these it is that are the transgressors (Surah 24, Verse 4)
By obvious implications, this injunction applies to cases where a women accuses a man of illicit sexual intercourse, and is subsequently unable to prove her accusations legally. The severity of the punishment to be meted out in such cases, as well as the requirement of four witnesses instead of the two that Islamic law regards as sufficient in all other criminal and civil suits is based on the imperative necessity of preventing slander and off-hand accusations.
And as for those who are guilty of an indecency from among your women, call to witnesses against them four (witnesses) from among you; then if they bear witness confine them to the houses until death takes them away or Allah opens some way for them.
And as for the two who are guilty of indecency from among you, give them both a punishment; then if they repent and amend, turn aside from them; surely Allah is Oft-returning (to mercy), the Merciful. (Surah 4, Verses 15-16)
The punishment for adultery for men is the same for women. It is prescribed in 24:2, and that is 100 lashes.
In addition, a woman who is caught in the act of adultery on four different occasions and witnessed by four different people, is to be confined to her home. This is for her own safety and the safety of society, it seems logical to say this verse is the punishment for prostitution since the Arabic word Fahishah is used. The words "until God creates an exit for them" could be if the woman finds a husband. This would end her quarantine, since marriage would hopefully make her change her ways and become a righteous woman. The words in 4:16 do not prescribe a different punishment for men. The first word used in 4:16 is the Arabic word "Ala'zan" which speaks of a couple (man and woman). It talks of a man and a woman in adultery or fornication; we read the words 'you shall punish them' (Aazuhoma). This refers to the prescribed punishment which is 100 lashes. It is important here to point out a major difference between the women spoken of in verse 15 from those in verse 16. It is a fundamental principle of Islamic Law that once a crime has been expiated by the trangressors undergoing the ordained legal punishment (in this case 100 stripes), it must be regarded, insofar as the society is concerned, as atoned for and done with.
Later day scholars have interpreted 4:16 as a punishment for homosexuals. The word Alazan could be a man and a woman, or two men but not two women. That is because the word used is 'Ala'zan' and not 'Ala'tan'. I doubt this is the case since two men would not be spoken of as a couple since this is not allowed in Islam. Additionally I could not find a reference for the word Alatan which refers to two women. Using this logic I conclude that 4:15-16, is not speaking about homosexual relationships. Be careful Muslim brothers and sisters we can not add any punishments; that of which Allah has not justly prescribed.
Take to forgiveness and enjoin good and turn aside from the ignorant. And if a false imputation from the Shaitan afflict you, seek refuge in Allah; surely He is Hearing, Knowing (Surah 7, Verse 199-200)
The meaning of this verse is literally accept what is easily forthcoming (from mans nature) According to Zamakhsharri, khudh al-afw means: Accept what comes easily to thee (or what is willingly accorded to thee) of the doings and the nature of men, and make things easy (for them), without causing them undue hardship (kulfah); and do not demand of them efforts that may be too difficult for them. Thus, in accordance with the Quranic statements that man has been created weak (4:28) and that God does not burden any human being with more than he is able to bear (2:286), the believer is admonished to make due allowances for human nature and not be to harsh with those who err. This admonition is the more remarkable as it follows immediately upon a discourse on the most unforgivable of all sins the ascribing of divine powers to anyone or anything but God.
However if recent scholars, still take the interpretation of later day scholars; meaning Verse 16 is a punishment, the maximum punishment for practising homosexuality would be no more 100 strikes.
